Participation of the University of Sarajevo Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences in the URWAN Project

Učešće Poljoprivredno-prehrambenog fakulteta UNSA u projektu URWAN

Monday, September 21, 2026 - 17:08

The University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences participated as an affiliated project partner in the implementation of the European project URWAN – Urban Regenerative Water Avant-garde(N), co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Euro-MED programme. The project is focused on developing sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban spaces through the application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), with special emphasis on water management and climate change adaptation.

The project brought together international partners under the coordination of ANCI Lazio from Italy, with the City of Sarajevo serving as the project partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alongside Ferla and Rome in Italy, Cuba in Portugal, and Ptuj in Slovenia, Sarajevo participated in collaborative public space planning processes following the Start Park methodology. Further information about activities and results in these cities is available on the project activities webpage.

The Faculty's role as an affiliated partner focused on providing expert contributions, exchanging knowledge and experiences, and participating in activities relevant to sustainable urban development and the implementation of Nature-based Solutions.

Particular significance was attached to participation in the URWAN Living Lab workshops, which served as a platform for connecting science, institutions, and other relevant stakeholders to jointly develop solutions. During the third Living Lab workshop, held within working sessions on 11 and 12 February 2026 in Sliema, Malta, participants worked on improving the URWAN Enabler Pack toolkit, with special focus on sustainable water management in urban environments. Topics discussed included green roofs as a Nature-based Solution, regulatory and planning frameworks, design and implementation challenges, and adapting the developed tools to end-user needs.

At the URWAN project's final event in Brussels, held on 11 June 2026, key results were presented, experiences gained through the Living Lab process were exchanged, and possibilities for further application of Nature-based Solutions in urban environments were discussed. Assistant Professor Dr. Ćerima Zahirović Sinanović participated in these events representing the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences.

One of the key project outcomes is the URWAN Enabler Pack, which consolidates practical tools and guidelines to support cities in planning and implementing Nature-based Solutions. The package includes:

NbS Catalogue – a catalogue of solutions for strengthening city resilience, preserving biodiversity, and sustainable water management;

URWAN Checklist – a checklist for considering key elements during planning, design, and implementation of these solutions;

Start Park Guidelines – guidelines for collaborative design of green spaces with local community participation;

Training Programme – educational materials and examples for enhancing knowledge about sustainable urban water solutions.

The developed materials can serve as a useful resource for students, teachers, researchers, and local community representatives engaged in natural resource management, urban greenery, and climate change issues. For the Faculty, participation in the project represents an opportunity to connect knowledge about soil, water, and plants with concrete challenges of urban development, as well as to strengthen cooperation between the University of Sarajevo and local institutions and international partners.

Author of the text: Assistant Professor Dr. Ćerima Zahirović Sinanović

University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences

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